Lower Allen Web Log

You may have seen a note in the Sunday Patriot-News today about the Cumberland County Democratic Committee's endorsements. In case you missed it, here are the candidates for state-wide judicial offices who received the CCDC's support yesterday in a 90 minutes meeting at Party headquarters in Carlisle:

• Supreme Court - John Panella
• Superior Court - Anne Lazarus, John Young, Robert Colville
• Commonwealth Court - Jimmy Lynn, Barbara Baron Ernsberger

These endorsements almost mirror the state Party's endorsements, with one exception. State Democrats endorsed Daniel Bricmont for Commonwealth Court, only to later determine that he switched his registration from "R" to "D" just last year. As a result of that discovery, and some passionate campaigning at yesterday's meeting, the CCDC broke ranks by endorsing Ms. Ernsberger for Commonwealth Court.

Following are the endorsed candidates for county row offices:

• Prothonotary - Ken Lee
• Coroner - Morgan Evans
• Registrar of Wills - Sharon Snell
• Jury Commissioner - Jim Baker

One last note on this topic: discussion surrounding the jury commissioner endorsement was intriguing yesterday. County Commissioner Rick Rovegno is circulating a petition, and considering placing his name on the ballot for jury commissioner with an eye to vacating the latter position if he is elected, then asking the governor to not fill the seat in order to save taxpayer funds.

While a novel idea, without Republican cooperation to act likewise for their jury commissioner slot, there is little chance of success. Instead, we should work with local legislators to have the jury commissioner position - an archaic position which has almost no real duties but which sucks up significant taxpayer funds - eliminated.

Comm. Rovegno did not allow his name to be placed into nomination, though, as Jim Baker received the CCDC endorsement. I doubt if this is the last we'll hear about this, however.

NOTE: See the Sentinel article for a much more comprehensive recap of the meeting, and the issues.